Friday, August 22, 2003

Valparaiso's women's cross country team has been tabbed to finish in third place in the Mid-Continent Conference in 2003 according to the preseason poll which was voted upon by the league's head coaches.

Head coach Mike Straubel's team, which finished in a tie for fourth in 2002, earned one first place vote and 44 total points to finish behind six-time defending champion Southern Utah and Oakland in the balloting. Western Illinois was picked fourth in the voting, followed by IUPUI, Oral Roberts, and UMKC. Chicago State and Centenary, the newest member of the Mid-Con, rounded out the poll.

Valpo's 2003 season will open on September 5 when the Brown and Gold hosts the Crusader Invitational at Sunset Hills Farm. The women's race is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

2003 Mid-Continent Conference Preseason Poll-Women's Cross Country
1. Southern Utah (6) - 58
2. Oakland (1) - 50
3. Valparaiso (1) - 44
4. Western Illinois - 41
5. IUPUI - 40
6. Oral Roberts (1) - 34
7. UMKC - 22
8. Chicago State - 19
9. Centenary - 16
(First place votes in parentheses)